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Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947), La Toillette Assise, 1925, lithograph, signed in pencil lower right. Reference: Bouvet 76, first state (of 3); edition of only 25 in the first state (there were 25 in the second and 125 in the third states). On Japan paper, with full margins. Published by Edmond Frapier for the album Maitres et Petits Maitres d’Aujourd’hui (Masters and Minor Masters of Today). With the Galerie des Peintures-Gravures ink stamp lower left, and their blind stamp lower right. In good condition (some printer’s creases upper left and elsewhere), with wide margins, 13 3/4 x 9 1/4, the sheet 19 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches, archival mounting.
A fine rich impression, printed in black ink. In this, the first state, the plate has yet to be reduced in height by 3/4 inch, and the monogram has yet to be added to the lower right.
Bonnard returned to lithography at the encouragement of Frapier in 1925 – he had of course been active in the medium earlier, doing book designs and posters as well as lithographic sets. At this point his work in lithography was quite vigorous and rich; he was producing complete works of art which could stand by themselves, in contrast to the earlier rather wispy (though of course beautiful) lithographs for the book illustrations. Frapier was at the time attempting a renaissance of lithography – he was the publisher and owner of the Paris Galerie des Peintres-Gravures.
